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Maritime Lawyer

Lafayette and Metairie Maritime Lawyer

With the number of bodies of fresh water in Louisiana, in addition to access to the gulf, maritime law is an important area of law in our state. Maritime law governs injuries and accidents that occur on the water, on vessels or watercraft operating in the water, or accidents connected with the water.

It is important for injury victims to hire an attorney who has extensive knowledge of maritime law in Louisiana. The maritime lawyers of The Law Offices of Blaine J. Barrilleaux assists victims of maritime accidents and files claims with the appropriate parties to recover compensation for their damages, injuries, and losses. With nearly 20 years of experience helping accident victims, our attorneys have the skills necessary to represent who have been injured in maritime disasters in Louisiana.

We are licensed to practice in all state and federal courts. If you have been injured, call 337-989-1212 to schedule a free consultation with a maritime lawyer.

What is Maritime Law and Admiralty Law?

Accidents that occur while at sea or on other bodies of water are handled differently from accidents that occur on land. A distinct set of laws govern maritime accidents. Maritime and admiralty law governs what occurs while on navigable waters. Navigable waters include large lakes, oceans, rivers, or any body of water where commercial shipping can occur.

Maritime law can be quite complex because your status on a vessel determines the applicable law that governs your injury. For example, if you are a passenger or guest on a cruise ship or pleasure boat, a different type of maritime law may govern your injury than if you were an offshore worker or crew member. Because different claims may have different deadlines for filing, you should contact an experienced Lafayette maritime lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

Our law firm handles all maritime accident claims, including but not limited to cases involving:

Cruise ships and other pleasure boats

Private boats and water vessels

Offshore drilling rigs

Recreational and charter boating claims

Slips and falls, including cases involving falls while boarding or debarking from a vessel

Rough water claims

Toxic exposure claims

Unseaworthiness of a boat or vessel

Unsafe conditions on ships or boats

Cases involving drilling, welding, and cranes

Claims involving vessels that collided with another vessel or other object

If you have been injured while on the water for any reason, contact our office to discuss whether you need to file a maritime accident claim.

The Jones Act

The Jones Act is a specific law that applies to seamen or merchant marines who are injured while aboard ships. The Act provides compensation when an injury occurs secondary to the negligence of a fellow seaman, the vessel’s owner, the captain, or another member of the vessel’s crew. However, claims filed under The Jones Act are heavily governed by the legal theory of comparative negligence.

Comparative negligence compares your negligence to the negligence of others in causing your injury. If you contributed to the reason for your injury, the amount of money you may receive for your claim could be substantially reduced. Therefore, you need to discuss your claim with an attorney who has experience handling maritime claims filed under The Jones Act.

Get Help from a Louisiana Maritime Lawyer

Our Maritime lawyers have been assisting accident victims for nearly two decades. We understand the various laws governing maritime accidents, including General Maritime Law, The Jones Act, The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and the Death on the High Seas Act.

By performing a thorough investigation and working closely with you to understand the facts and details of what happened to you, we can identify the liable parties and the applicable law that applies in your case. Our goal is to file a claim that gives you the best chance of recovering maximum compensation for your claim, regardless of where your injury occurred or the specific maritime law that governs how and where you were injured.

Contact The Law Offices of Blaine J. Barrilleaux by calling 337-989-1212 to schedule a free case evaluation with a maritime lawyer. We represent clients throughout Louisiana, including those in Lafayette and Metairie.